Sonnet 64
When I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'd
The rich proud cost of outworn buried age;
When sometime lofty towers I see down-raz'd,
And brass eternal slave to mortal rage;
When I have seen the hungry ocean gain
Advantage on the kingdom of the shore,
And the firm soil win of the watery main,
Increasing store with loss, and loss with store;
When I have seen such interchange of state,
Or state itself confounded to decay;
Ruin hath taught me thus to ruminate
That Time will come and take my love away.
This thought is as a death which cannot choose
But weep to have that which it fears to lose.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) is considered by many to be the finest writer in English or any other language. The word “iconic” is used of too many people, but is certainly true of him. His works have been translated into every major language and quotes from his plays make up the very fabric of many modern sayings. There is such a wealth of information and speculation available on Shakespeare, that there is little point in my rehashing it here.
